Modern mixed martial arts competition emerged in American popular culture in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Initially based on finding the most effective martial arts for real unarmed combat situations, competitors of various arts were pitted against one another with minimal rules for safety. In the following decade, MMA promoters adopted many additional rules aimed at increasing safety for competitors and to promote mainstream acceptance of the sport. The name Mixed martial arts was coined by one of the developers of these rules Jeff Blatnick a former Greco-Roman wrestler and Olympic gold medallist. Following these changes, the sport has seen increased popularity with pay per view reach rivaling boxing and professional wrestling. ... read even more ...